HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 195 



justly termed, we may mention, for the sake of showing how far enthusiasm 

 can go, that in Holland, about the year 1635, when this madness was at the 

 greatest height, one root, called the Viceroy, was sold for 2,500 florins, 

 another, the Semper Augustus, for 2,000 florins. One person agreed to 

 give 4,000 florins, with a new carriage, two horses, and complete harness 

 and yet another to give twelve acres of land for a single root. Think of 

 this, ladies ; how would you like papa to become so ridiculously singular ? 



Thanks to our more sober senses, we can now admire the beauties of na- 

 ture, and safely recommend the cultivation of this noble flower in its most 

 perfect and beautiful forms, without the risk of setting the world on fire, 

 depriving our belles of their handsome equipages, or prevent them from re- 

 ceiving their dowrys. The cultivation of the Tulip, like all other things, 

 is simple when rightly understood. It may be planted in the open ground, 

 grown in pots, or in glasses filled with water like the Hyacinth. 



Culture in the open ground. — If the early blooming and fancy varieties 

 only are intended to be grown, the most suitable soil is a tolerably fertile 

 one, with a well drained bottom, the bulbs being planted in October, and 

 the surface covered through the winter with litter, which, however, should 

 not be left on too long after the leaves appear above ground, or they will 

 be injured, and the blooms destroyed ; but to grow the fine prize sorts, 

 some care is to be used in the compost and management all through. There 

 is perhaps no flower deteriorates more than the finer tulips by neglect, but 

 fortunately the requisite care is not very expensive or over tedious. The 

 following practice has succeeded satisfactorily with the writer, and no doubt 

 will do so with others, if attended to. About the beginning of* October, 

 choose an open and airy situation, mark out the size of the requisite bed, and 

 excavate to the depth of twenty inches. If the bottom is not well drained it 

 must be made so artificially, so that all the superfluous water may pass 

 away, throw in twelve inches of a mixture composed of two-thirds sound 

 friable earth of rather light substance, and one-third thoroughly rotted cow 

 or horse manure, be sure that the dung is well decomposed or the colors 

 will be liable to run ; above this fill in to three inches higher than the 

 surrounding surface, to allow for sinking afterwards. As the work pro- 

 ceeds, throw in a little caustic air-slaked lime amongst the upper base, 

 which will assist in destroying any insects that may be secreted, besides 

 adding to the suitableness of the material for the intended purpose. The 

 middle of November is the best time to plant. Choose well formed and 

 solid bulbs, and after loosening the upper stratum up well, plant eight 

 inches apart and four inches deep, smooth all over and when severe weather 



